It's Summer and it is HOT!

This summer has been hot and quite eventful. 

1. First grandchild was born, a boy
2. 3rd daughter graduated from high school
3. 3rd daughter already away for summer school(scholarship)
4. Will have 2 in college again in the fall.
5. Wife decided it was time to leave her job
6. Decided to start home schooling
7. Car got broken into
8. Waiting to see what will come of application to diaconate
9. started running(I have lost 26 lbs so far and run over 280 km)

As you can see there have been a lot of life changes this summer. Any of them singly are pretty easy to handle. Together they have been a bit overwhelming. Except for the car getting broken into, these are all pretty exciting things. 

Why is it that most things that are exciting are also full of uncertainty and anxiety? Is this what makes them exciting? 

Most of my anxiety comes from the change in our financial situation. Not really sure why this worries me. God, has always taken care of me. Every single time. I am reminded of the wedding feast at Cana. Jesus was asked to help with a little wine. But no, not just a little would he make, but he made a lot of really good wine. God will not be outdone in his generosity.

During these times in my life, when I feel anxious, I need to stop, look back and recall all of the times God has showered his grace upon me. Not just a little sprinkle but a heavenly downpour.

The Samaritan and Me

I am quite the skeptic. I know. Hard to believe, right? 

Well, this last Thursday I was out walking in the Target parking lot. A bit earlier than I normally go out but it has been hot. As I am walking, I notice a man walking toward me. Like, literally, toward me. My first thought is, oh great a beggar this early in the morning.

But I had been praying and so I did not run away. I was like, "Really, God, a test this early in the morning?". And, yes, I was right it was someone asking for money. I listened to his story using my full powers of skepticism. The story seemed at lest in the realm of possibility. Now, I generally don't carry cash but this day I had a couple of dollars and I felt the urge(Holy Spirit) move me to let it go and give the money to the man. As I turned to walk away, I got the Holy Spirit tug again. I turned the the man and asked if I could pray with him before he left. We prayed together and off he went.

Suddenly, I realized that it didn't matter whether or not the man's story was true. What really mattered was the condition of my heart. Jesus did not qualify people before he helped them and neither should I. Christ's love is not conditional and mine should not be either.

The gospel reading this past Sunday was that of the Good Samaritan. He did not ask the victim if he had done something to deserve it. He was just moved and had pity on the person. I listened to this reading and smiled as I recalled the events of a couple days earlier. Am I a good Samaritan? Don't know about that I am but I am working on it.

Charity Starts At Home

If you are anything like wife and I, you are routinely asked to give to one cause or another. This can often be overwhelming. I often wonder, just how much more can I give? These causes are important but I wonder if we are missing the point sometimes. Is it right to give to these causes and at the same time make our children take out loans to go to college?

These many causes often have lots of trained people trying to convince you that their cause is the most important. We should support some of these. But what about the least of my children?

Jesus in the gospels tells us to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. My wife is helping with vacation bible school this week. One woman came with a large number of children. Their clothes were ragged and worn. Moved to action, my wife came home and went on hunt to help provide this woman some clothes for her children. All of the closets were cleaned out. If we didn't have a size that she needed, she contacted friends that might.

This is what I feel it is really all about. Seeing a need and meeting it without being asked. The woman did not ask for anything but my wife saw a need and was moved to help meet it.

Jesus is the same way. Sometimes we don't see our need or are too embarrassed to ask for help, but Jesus knows what we need and He will provide at the appropriate time. 

Luke, It is your destiny

While we don't all have a Sith lord as our farther, we do all have a destiny. We will all be held accountable, one day, for our actions and words.

Always speak and act as men destined for judgement under the law of freedom. Merciless is the judgment on the man who has not shown mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

My wife has told me, and it is true, that I often speak before thinking. This gets me into trouble at times. There are times when I speak out of anger or hurt not thinking about what kind of damage I might inflict on others along the way. This happened again yesterday. I could come up with all kinds of excuses for my behavior but the bottom line is that I am an adult and I must take responsibility for my actions and words.

The other half of this comes just as hard. Do I show mercy for others who may be having a rough day just like me? Do I forgive others easily or do I hold onto hurts, real or imagined? 

While I am getting better, sadly the answer is no to both of these questions. Because of our sinful nature we will all struggle with these things. What am I doing to get better?

1. Pray
2. Scripture(read and prayed over daily)
3. Pray
4. Practice patience
5. Pray

We live in a world where we are told to demand our rights. To never back down. To go for the kill. The world may look at me as weak for being merciful but Christ demands something greater of me. 

I keep praying that I will be able to show mercy in everything I do and with everyone I meet.